DUBAI: The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) has announced the winners of the 2016 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Shopping Centre and Retailer Awards, recognizing the region's most innovative shopping centers for outstanding achievement in retail, retail store design, design and development, and marketing. ICSC has named MUROUJ, Kuwait as a Silver Award winner in the development and design category.

Murouj is a Premium Leisure and Entertainment Destination in Kuwait developed by Al-Jazeera Real Estate Development Co. and designed by R204DESIGN, Los Angeles / executed by Lab 100, Kuwait, as an exclusive mixed-use development with unique food & beverage offerings, high-end brands, health, fitness and recreation outlets. Designed as an outdoor retail and entertainment venue part of the Sahara Golf & Equestrian Club, Murouj defies all conventional norms of shying away from the exterior environment and harsh climatic conditions of Kuwait, by nestling it within a serene garden setting and creating a "comfortable place" for people to meet, dine, chat and enjoy the landscape.

"We are very excited that the ICSC / MECSC Jury has recognized Murouj as a unique project and selected it as a 2016 Award winner for Design and Development Excellence in the MENA region. The development team deserves significant credit for upholding the original vision and ensuring successful execution of the project" - Sidhartha Sabikhi AIA, Founder & Director of International Projects for R204DESIGN.

R204DESIGN is a global planning and architecture firm with offices in Los Angeles, New Delhi, and Dubai. The firm has recently formed a strategic alliance to establish presence in Kuwait by appointing Waleed Shaalan as its Director of Projects for MENA region to serve the needs of the market providing comprehensive planning & architecture services and delivering quality projects in the GCC region.

The 2016 ICSC Middle East and North Africa Shopping Centre and Retailer Awards competition was open to shopping center owners, developers, management companies, architects and designers, and retailers. ICSC announced the winners at an awards ceremony during ICSC RECon Middle East and North Africa in Dubai. All 2016 Gold award recipients receive automatic entry into the 2017 ICSC VIVA Awards, the international program that honors the retail real estate industry's most cutting-edge properties, innovative solutions, and creative responses to market trends. ICSC will announce the victors of the VIVA Awards during RECon 2017 in Las Vegas.